Duterte meets Norway’s special envoy to communist peace talks

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte welcomes Norwegian Special Envoy to the Peace Process Between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines Idun Tvedt as the latter paid a courtesy call on the President at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on February 15, 2018. Also in the photo are Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza. Karl Norman Alonzo, Presidential Photo

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday met with Norway’s special envoy to the peace talks between the Philippine government and National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Ambassador Idun Tvedt reiterated the commitment of the Norwegian government to assist the Philippines in its peace process with the NDFP during her meeting with the President at the presidential guest house in Panacan, Davao City.

“The President welcomed Norway's expression of commitment and stressed that the goal of peace must be achieved with due regard for the national interest of the Philippines,” Roque said in a statement.

“The President stressed that the Philippines is committed to peace.”

Tvedt, who replaced Elisabeth Slåttum in October last year, was a member of the facilitation team for peace process between the Colombian government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC.)

Roque said Tvedt and Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Førner described the meeting as “productive.”

Duterte in November last year terminated peace talks with the National Democratic Front amid the NPA’s attacks against government troops despite the ongoing peace talks.

He then labelled the CPP-NPA as a terror organization. In yet another controversial remark, he told state troops to shoot female rebels in their privates and also offered a P25,000 bounty for every rebel killed.